South Dakota
Rapid Creek below Pactola Dam
Current River Rating
Poor · 37
Conditions are unfavorable based on the available readings.
Scores are model-specific and are not directly comparable across water types.
Partial water evidence · Low confidence
Should I Go?
Wait
Limited opportunity
Timing Outlook
No reliable fishing window is recommended while current river conditions remain Poor.
Why
- Very clear skies may make trout more cautious in shallow water.
- Water temperature is unavailable.
Favorable Factors
- Recent precipitation has been light.
- Light wind should make casting and boat control easier.
Cautions
- Recent observed air temperature suggests unfavorable river water temperature for trout. Verify with a stream thermometer; this is not a measured water temperature.
Current Readings
- Flow
- 45.9 CFS
- Gage Height
- 7.55 ft
- Water Temperature
- Not available
- Observation Time
- Sep 5, 2026, 7:15 AM
Updated recently · USGS station 06411500 · Direct monitoring location
Readings from past 7 Days
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Historical readings are provided for context. Readings outside the current freshness window are not used to rate current conditions.
Better Nearby Options
Checking nearby StrikeTracks waters…
Preliminary guidance only. Always assess current weather, access, water depth, current speed, and your own ability before entering the river.
Changing Conditions Advisory
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Weather Near Gauge
Current Weather
Clear
Temperature
72°F
Feels like
66°F
Wind
7 mph W
Wind gust
10 mph
Current precipitation
0.00 in
Updated
Sep 5, 2026, 1:45 AM
Recent Rainfall
Estimated precipitation near this gauge
Last 6 hours
0.00 in
Last 24 hours
0.00 in
Last 48 hours
0.00 in
Little recent rainfall near this river.
Next 24 Hours
Sat 2 AM
Clear
Temp 72°F
Chance 0%
Precip 0.00 in
Wind 6 mph
Sat 6 AM
Clear
Temp 68°F
Chance 0%
Precip 0.00 in
Wind 6 mph
Sat 10 AM
Clear
Temp 90°F
Chance 1%
Precip 0.00 in
Wind 2 mph
Sat 2 PM
Overcast
Temp 77°F
Chance 7%
Precip 0.00 in
Wind 5 mph
Sat 6 PM
Overcast
Temp 85°F
Chance 3%
Precip 0.00 in
Wind 7 mph
Sat 10 PM
Clear
Temp 73°F
Chance 1%
Precip 0.00 in
Wind 10 mph
Four-Day Forecast
Sat, Sep 5
Rain
High 91°F / Low 68°F
Chance 10%
Precip 0.12 in
Max gust 29 mph
Sun, Sep 6
Showers
High 91°F / Low 66°F
Chance 39%
Precip 0.21 in
Max gust 27 mph
Mon, Sep 7
Overcast
High 87°F / Low 67°F
Chance 39%
Precip 0.00 in
Max gust 36 mph
Tue, Sep 8
Overcast
High 79°F / Low 54°F
Chance 1%
Precip 0.00 in
Max gust 26 mph
Weather and rainfall are estimated for this river's coordinates. Local conditions can vary, especially in mountainous terrain and during isolated storms.
Recent rainfall can influence river flow, but the timing and magnitude depend on watershed size, soil conditions, upstream reservoirs, and dam releases.
Weather data: Open-Meteo
Historical Flow
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Fishing Overview
Rapid Creek below Pactola Dam, Pennington County, South Dakota. Monitoring-Backed FLOW-PRIMARY from USGS (live 00060, 00065). Live 00010 is not present. Water temperature is not labeled. USGS 06411500 Rapid Creek below Pactola Dam is the bounded Black Hills tailwater reach immediately below Pactola Reservoir. Live 00060/00065 verified 2026-08-30. Site type ST. Not Pactola Reservoir pool, not Rapid Creek at Rapid City, and not Spearfish Creek at Spearfish 06431500. Elevation station 06411000 on Pactola Reservoir is not this river and is not water temperature.
Fishery Profile
Documented species you may encounter at Rapid Creek.
Species images are AI-generated illustrations for visual reference and may simplify natural variation. Fishery records are based on the cited agency sources. About fish illustrations
Fishery overview
Rapid Creek below Pactola Dam is South Dakota's flagship Black Hills tailwater trout river. StrikeTracks publishes Monitoring-Backed FLOW-PRIMARY conditions from USGS 06411500 using live discharge and stage. Live water temperature (00010) is not present and is not labeled. GFP Black Hills regulations treat this as trout water in the Black Hills Fish Management Area. This is not Pactola Reservoir, not Rapid Creek in Rapid City, and not Spearfish Canyon.
Target species
Brown Trout
Salmo trutta
- Expectation
- Primary
- Population
- Wild
- Native status
- introduced
- Confidence
- High confidence
GFP Black Hills trout water below Pactola Dam. Wild and stocked brown trout on this bounded tailwater. Not Spearfish Canyon browns and not Pactola Reservoir lake trout as a substitute pin.
Rainbow Trout
Oncorhynchus mykiss
- Expectation
- Primary
- Population
- Stocked
- Native status
- introduced
- Confidence
- High confidence
GFP stocks and manages rainbow trout on Rapid Creek in the Black Hills Fish Management Area. Not Deerfield rainbows as a copy and not a Rapid City urban-reach pin.
Fishery characteristics
- Composition
- Mixed wild and stocked
- Great Lakes tributary
- No
- Flow regime
- Regulated flow
Regulated Black Hills tailwater below Pactola Dam with riffles, pocket water, and public canyon corridor. USGS 06411500 sits on this bounded reach. Distinct from the Pactola pool above the dam and from the city Rapid Creek reach.
Best seasons
- Spring
- Summer
- Fall
Common techniques
- Fly fishing
- Shore fishing
- Spinning
Access and Public Fishing Rights
GFP and USFS document public fishing on Rapid Creek below Pactola Dam in the Black Hills. Catalog coordinates are USGS 06411500, not a verified put-in pin. Private frontage occurs downstream; use posted public access.
Stocking information
GFP manages Rapid Creek trout in the Black Hills Fish Management Area and stocks catchable trout where posted. Confirm current official GFP stocking notices. Do not treat the stocking calendar as Hatch.
- Stocked
Rainbow Trout
Stocked · South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks
Official sources
South Dakota fishing license required. Black Hills Fish Management Area trout rules apply, including daily trout limits distinct from statewide inland waters. Not Spearfish Canyon catch-and-release specials and not Pactola Reservoir lake-trout rules. Confirm current GFP Black Hills regulations.
Hatch Match
General fly suggestions
- Parachute-style dryGeneral attractor dry family — not a claim that a named mayfly is hatching.
- Pheasant-tail-style nymphGeneral nymph family for trout rivers without destination hatch timing.
- Elk-hair-style dryGeneral dry/attractor family. Pattern choice only — not a report that caddis are hatching.
- Woolly-bugger-style streamerGeneral streamer family. Not a forage or insect Hatch event.
These are general fishing suggestions, not a report of insects currently hatching at this destination.
Location and Access
USGS monitoring location
Pennington, South Dakota
The map marker represents the cataloged waterbody or monitoring location and may not indicate legal parking or public access. Confirm access through the official information before visiting.
River Details
County
Pennington
Management Category
Black Hills regulated tailwater trout river
Regulation Scope
Rapid Creek below Pactola Dam
Regulation Summary
Rapid Creek below Pactola Dam: GFP Black Hills Fish Management Area trout rules on the bounded Pactola tailwater. Confirm current official regulations.
Target Species
Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout
Access, Parking, and Regulations
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